Author: Andrew Rogers

The rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly has seen a strong resurgence in Northern Ireland this year, thanks to warm weather and long-term habitat restoration. Once widespread, the species declined sharply as farming practices changed and its only food plant, Devil’s-bit Scabious, became scarce. Surveys of managed sites show big increases in caterpillar nests: one location rose from 24 to 53 nests, another from 24 to 139, and a third from five to 27. Conservation manager Rose Cremin said the results highlight the importance of working with farmers to manage grassland correctly, as good weather alone cannot reverse long-term declines. The Marsh…

A UK expert health panel has advised against introducing prostate cancer screening for most men, saying the harms would outweigh the benefits. Instead, the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) recommends targeted testing only for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61. The committee found that widespread PSA testing would cause high levels of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, with many detected cancers being slow-growing and not life-threatening. Evidence for screening Black men or those with a family history was considered too weak and uncertain. The draft recommendation enters…

Premier League clubs are bracing for higher wage costs after the UK government announced that player image-rights payments will be taxed as income from April 2027. Image rights – often paid to players via limited companies to cover commercial and sponsorship earnings – are currently taxed at the 25% corporate rate. Under the new rules, they will be taxed at the 45% top income-tax rate, significantly increasing the tax burden for many players. Agents say that, in most cases, clubs will be expected to cover the difference, especially for players negotiating new contracts. Many deals in the Premier League are…

Archaeologists say they have confirmed that a huge circle of deep pits near Stonehenge was carved by humans more than 4,000 years ago. Known as the Durrington pit circle, the structure consists of about 20 विशाल pits, some up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep, stretching over more than a mile. Using advanced techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistance testing, soil dating and environmental DNA analysis, researchers found repeating soil patterns that could not have formed naturally. They now believe the pits were deliberately dug in the late Neolithic period. While the exact purpose remains unknown, the…

Scientists have identified five major phases of human brain development, revealing that the brain doesn’t settle into its “adult” mode until the early 30s. The findings come from a large study analysing brain scans from nearly 4,000 people ranging from infancy to 90 years old. Researchers found that brain development follows five broad “epochs,” separated by major transitional turning points at around ages nine, 32, 66 and 83. According to the study, the five phases are: During childhood, brains undergo heavy “pruning,” where unused connections are removed and frequently used ones are reinforced. Although this makes the brain more specialised,…

Idrissa Gueye received a warm response from his Everton teammates after apologising for his red-card offence during Monday’s win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The midfielder became the first Premier League player in 17 years to be sent off for striking a teammate after slapping Michael Keane in the 13th minute. Despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, Everton held on for a heroic 1–0 win, giving David Moyes his first victory at Old Trafford as an away manager. After the match, Gueye asked to address the squad in the dressing room, where he apologised directly…

People who stop using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro are likely to regain weight and lose many of the health improvements they experienced while on the drug, according to new research. Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, has been shown to help people lose around 20% of their body weight after long-term use. However, researchers analysing data from the Surmount-4 clinical trial found that stopping the medication not only led to weight regain, but also reversed gains in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar control. In the study, all participants received tirzepatide along with diet and exercise support for 36 weeks. They were…

Virgil van Dijk has launched a fierce critique of Liverpool’s form, admitting the champions are “in a mess” and accusing teammates of failing to take responsibility after a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference, marking their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games. Van Dijk described the performance, particularly the start of the second half, as “unacceptable” and said the team panicked after conceding. The captain admitted the squad is letting down manager Arne Slot and challenged whether every player is doing enough to…

Health officials in Washington state have confirmed the first known human death from the rare H5N5 strain of bird flu, though they say the overall risk to the public remains low. The patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions from Grays Harbor County, fell ill in early November and was hospitalised with high fever, confusion and respiratory problems. Officials said the individual kept a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds. No other people associated with the case have tested positive, and authorities say there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The Washington State…

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank says Spurs are not close to spending £100m on a single player, unlike north London rivals Arsenal. Spurs have undergone major changes following Daniel Levy’s departure as chairman and the appointment of a new leadership team by the Lewis family. While plans are in place to grow the business and improve on-field success, Frank believes matching Arsenal’s big-money approach is still some way off. Arsenal set the standard with their £105m signing of Declan Rice in 2023, while Tottenham’s record purchase remains the £60m deal for Richarlison in 2022. Frank questioned whether former boss Ange…